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Abu Bakr, however, was
not pleased to see Abu Qatadah, especially as he had left the army
without his commander's permission. "Return at once to your
post!" ordered the Caliph; and Abu Qatadah rode back to
Butah.1
But even before he had gone his words were
all over Madinah. They were heard by Umar who leapt to his feet
and rushed to Abu Bakr. "You have appointed a man to command",
he said, "who kills Muslims and burns men alive."
2 Abu Bakr was not impressed. He had clear
evidence of Malik's distributing the tax money on getting news of
the Prophet's death and of his pact with Sajjah. There was no doubt
about Malik's apostasy. As for burning men alive, the Caliph had
himself ordered that those apostates who had burnt Muslims alive
would be treated in like manner. 3 Khalid
had burnt no others.
Umar continued: "There is tyranny
in the sword of Khalid. He should be brought home in fetters. Dismiss
the man!"
Abu Bakr knew that there was little love
lost between these two great men. "O Umar", he
replied firmly, "keep your tongue off Khalid. I shall not
sheathe the sword that Allah has drawn against the infidels."
By now Khalid was being commonly referred to as the Sword of
Allah.
Umar persisted: "But this enemy
of Allah has killed a Muslim and taken his wife!" 4
Abu Bakr agreed to go into the matter. He sent for Khalid.
By now Khalid had come to know of the resentment
that his actions had aroused. He shrugged it off with the words:
"When Allah decides a matter, it is done." 5
Anyway, a little criticism did not worry Khalid. Then came the summons
of the Caliph to present himself at Madinah. Khalid guessed that
this was connected with the allegations against him, and was now
more than a little worried.
On arrival at Madinah, Khalid went straight
to the mosque. In those early days the mosque was not merely a place
of worship. It was also a meeting place, an assembly hall, a school,
a place of rest, and the centre of civic activity. Khalid was wearing
an arrow in his turban as an adornment, and this made him look a
bit of a dandy, for most Muslims preferred simplicity in their dress
and avoided all forms of ostentation.
Umar was in the mosque and saw Khalid. Livid
with anger, he walked up to Khalid, tore the arrow from Khalid's
turban and broke it in two. "You killed a Muslim and snatched
his wife", Umar shouted. "You ought to be stoned
to death." 6 Khalid knew that Umar
had much influence with Abu Bakr, and fearing that the Caliph might
have similar opinions, he turned away in silence.
He next went to see Abu Bakr, who demanded
an explanation. Khalid told him the whole story. After due consideration,
the Caliph decided that Khalid was not guilty. He did, however,
upbraid his general for marrying Laila and thus leaving himself
open to criticism, and since there was some possibility of a mistake,
as certain people believed that Malik was a Muslim, Abu Bakr ordered
the payment of blood-money to the heirs of Malik.
1. Tabari: Vol. 2, pp. 501-2.
2. Balazuri: p. 107.
3. Tabari: Vol. 2, p. 482.
4. Ibid: Vol. 2, pp. 503-4; Balazuri:
p. 107.
5. Tabari: Vol. 2, p. 502.
6. Tabari: Vol. 2, p. 504.
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